The Love of King David and Fair Bathsheba · chunk 15 of 30
Peele, George · published 1599 · first performed or written 1594 [1593-1594] (Annals) biblical play; history · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) T5 Christian faith, sin and salvation typicality 0.63 · 477 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
Thy servant is a widow in Thecoa, Two sons thy handmaid had, and they (my lord) Fought in the field, where no man went betwixt, And so the one did smite and slay the other. And lo behold the kindred doth arise, And cry on him that smote his brother, That he therefore may be the child of death, For we will follow and destroy the heir. So will they quench that sparkle that is left, And leave nor name, nor issue on the earth, To me, or to thy handmaid's husband dead. Woman return, go home unto thy house, I will take order that thy son be safe, If any man say otherwise than well, Bring him to me, and I shall chastise him: For as the Lord doth live, shall not a hair Shed from thy son, or fall upon the earth. Woman to God alone belongs revenge, Shall then the kindred slay him for his sin? Well hath King David to his handmaid spoke, But wherefore then hast thou determined So hard a part against the righteous Tribes To follow and pursue the banished, whenas to God alone, belongs revenge. Assuredly thou sayst against thyself, Therefore call home again the banished, Call home the banished, that he may live, And raise to thee some fruit in Israel. Thou woman of Thecoa answer me, Answer me one thing I shall ask of thee, Is not the hand of Ioab in this work? Tell me is not his finger in this fact? It is my lord, his hand is in this work, Assure thee, Ioab captain of thy host, Hath put these words into thy handmaid's mouth, And thou art as an angel from on high, To understand the meaning of my heart, Lo where he cometh to his lord the King. Say Ioab, didst thou send this woman in To put this parable for Absalon. Ioab my lord did bid this woman speak, And she hath said, and thou hast understood. I have and am content to do the thing, Go fetch my son, that he may live with me. Now God be blessed for King David's life, Thy servant Ioab hath found grace with thee, In that thou sparest Absolon thy child, A beautiful and fair young man is he, In all his body is no blemish seen, His hair is like the wire of David's Harp, That twines about his bright and ivory neck: In Israel is not such a goodly man, And here I bring him to entreat for grace. Hast thou slain in the fields of Hazor Ah Absalon my son, ah my son Absolon, But wherefore do I vex thy spirit so, Live and return from Gesur to thy house, Return from Gesur to Ierusalem, What boots it to be bitter to thy soul, Ammon is dead, and Absolon survives.
seed 43: T4 · seed 44: T5 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Thy seruant is a widdow in Thecoa, Two sonnes thy handmaid had, and they (my lord) Fought in the field, where no man went betwixt, And so the one did smite and slay the other. And loe behold the kindred doth arise, And crie on him that smote his brother, That he therefore may be the child of death, For we will follow and destroy the heire. So will they quench that sparkle that is left, And leaue nor name, nor issue on the earth, To me, or to thy handmaids husband dead. Woman returne, goe home vnto thy house, I will take order that thy sonne be safe, If any man say otherwise then well, Bring him to me, and I shall chastise him: For as the Lord doth liue, shall not a haire Shed from thy sonne, or fall vpon the earth. Woman to God alone belongs reuenge, Shall then the kindred slay him for his sinne? Well hath King Dauid to his handmaid spoke, But wherefore then hast thou determined So hard a part against the righteous Tribes To follow and pursue the banished, When as to God alone, belongs reuenge. Assuredly thou saist against thy selfe, Therefore call home againe the banished, Call home the banished, that he may liue, And raise to thee some fruit in Israel. Thou woman of Thecoa answere me, Answere me one thing I shall aske of thee, Is not the hand of Ioab in this worke? Tell me is not his finger in this fact? It is my lord, his hand is in this worke, Assure thee, Ioab captaine of thy host, Hath put these words into thy handmaids mouth, And thou art as an angel from on high, To vnderstand the meaning of my heart, Lo where he commeth to his lord the King. Say Ioab, didst thou send this woman in To put this parable for Absalon. Ioab my lord did bid this woman speake, And she hath said, and thou hast vnderstood. I haue and am content to do the thing, Goe fetch my sonne, that he may liue with me. Now God be blessed for King Dauids life, Thy seruant Ioab hath found grace with thee, In that thou sparest Absolon thy child, A beautifull and faire young man is he, In all his bodie is no blemish seene, His haire is like the wyer of Dauids Harpe, That twines about his bright and yuorie necke: In Israel is not such a goodly man, And here I bring him to entreat for grace. Hast thou slaine in the fields of Hazor Ah Absalon my sonne, ah my sonne Absolon, But wherefore doe I vexe thy spirit so, Liue and returne from Gesur to thy house, Returne from Gesur to Ierusalem, What boots it to be bitter to thy soule, Ammon is dead, and Absolon suruiues.